Lineen: Red card not to blame for loss
Head coach Sean Lineen refused to blame Scotland’s heavy defeat to Ireland in yesterday’s Under-20s Six Nations opener on Harri Morris, who was sent off in the first minute of the second-half.
The Scottish flanker received his marching orders after taking out opposition full-back Jamie Osborne as he jumped to collect a high ball, leaving his team battling for almost 40 minutes with a man less.
The game had been evenly balanced at the break, but Ireland went on to score four unanswered tries for a comprehensive victory.
“It wasn’t intentional, but it was reckless,” said Lineen. “It is unfortunate for Harri because he plays hard, but he isn’t dirty, and he’s absolutely gutted.
“He’s a key player for us so after that it just got harder – but we can’t use that as an excuse.”
The Scots recovered from coughing up a try to Irish flanker Alex Soroka inside three minutes to draw level at the end of the first quarter when stand-off Cameron Scott poked a lovely grubber ahead for Elliot Gourlay to race on to and score.
And Lineen’s boys were unlucky to go in seven points down at the break because it was a freak rebound off Osborne’s head that led to his team’s second try.
The loose ball was hacked through to the Scottish in-goal area and winger Michael Gray conceded a penalty try for tugging at Oisin Mccormack in the race for the ball.
But the second half got off to that disastrous start.
“The coaches weren’t back in their seats after the break by the time Harri got his red-card,” said Lineen. “It is tough for a young group to deal with that.”
It was more or less one-way traffic for the rest of the game, with tries from Sam Illo, Alex Kendellen, Shane Jennings and Osborne easing Ireland home.
“It is game No. 1 and a massive learning. We’re disappointed because we’re better than that, but we move onto England now and prepare as best as we can,” said Lineen.